“That which is holding you down can become a powerful force that raises you up.  You just have to be willing to take the ascent.”

- Michael A. Singer

With an “enlightening” weekend to my back – Monday morning once again arrives.  As the words make their way to the computer screen this morning I feel the same – yet somehow changed.  Perhaps that’s how we should begin each day – exploring what is before us while rising up from what is behind us.Friday morning Izzy and I headed out for a little adventure to visit a friend and coaching colleague, Cindy, who lives in a beautiful part of Colorado that I had never been to before.  Our destination was the little town of Crestone located about four hours (by car) south of Boulder. The drive there and back was absolutely gorgeous.  Not only from the amazing change of color in the trees but the mountain vistas were breath taking all along the way.

Crestone is located just north of the Great Sand Dunes National Park – a phenomenon in itself.  These amazing – almost mystical sand dunes are nestled into the base of the amazing Sangre de Cristo Mountains.  I was fortunate to be staying with my friend Cindy whose home gave me beautiful views of not only the San Luis valley below but also the beautiful peaks of the mountains to the immediate west.  It felt like we could reach out and touch these spectacular 14,000-foot peaks.  Izzy found a new fast friend and playmate in Cindy’s dog, Luke.

Saturday with the dogs in tow (or were they towing us?) we enjoyed a beautiful 70 degree fall day with the trees all around us an amazing gold.  We hiked up to the one of several interesting Buddhist prayer stupas (see pics) located in the area.  During the course of the day I felt like I had been transplanted into Tibet and it was an awakening for sure for me to see a part of this culture that, as I have learned, is looked at more as a way of living. Continue reading →

“If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?”
- Steve Jobs

Since the early predawn hours today I have written and then rewritten the words for today’s Victory Letter. All the while, through various cups of coffee, a shower and nibbling on some sort of semblance of breakfast I kept hearing the words to Elton John’s song “Roy Rogers” ringing in my ears and in my heart.

It’s not always easy to put into words issues close to the heart, which it seems that I have had to do way too much of as of late. Last week when the news came of the death of Steve Jobs my heart actually felt like it stopped beating as I stared at the incredulous words on the face of, what else, my iPhone. My sister, Robi, broke the news to me via text saying, “I know you don’t watch the news so in case you did not hear Steve Jobs died today ;( What a visionary.”

Those words are now imprinted into my brain as one of those, “never forget where you were moments” in life. One of those moments that take your breath away – and sadly, not in a good way.

Steve Jobs as I have shared many times over the years in this letter was and will forever more be my entrepreneurial hero. I have not cried when too many public figures have died – but I have shed many a tear over Steve’s passing. He was the heart of Apple and his shoes will be big to fill. He was like a family member whose work has been a part of my world for over 25 years. While I didn’t know him personally it sure felt like I did. Continue reading →

"Be Nice or Leave"
- A sign at the Sundance Café

As October arrives, along with it comes the full beauty of the fall season. I had thought of naming this week's Victory Letter "Colorado Gold" but decided "Being Nice" was more fitting as the words this morning begin to unfold.

My husband Ed came home on Thursday night for the first time in five weeks (due to a long term work assignment). Knowing we only had a couple of days before he is gone again, we spent a special day on Saturday enjoying the "gold" in the mountains above the town of Nederland. There is a trail we have gone to for years up near the 4th of July Campground and the fall foliage was absolutely spectacular! I hope you enjoy the pictures I have to share from so many that I took.

This morning as I write these words to you I am so grateful for not only my husband who is a strong pillar in my life but for the strength of trees as well. The fact that we each have them in our world to enjoy – from the flowering buds in the spring, to the shade they give in the summer, to the magnificent display of color that they radiate in the fall when it is time for them to take a rest as we head towards the winter months ahead.

Saturday morning before heading off on our hike we stopped at one of our favorite all time restaurants that we seem to only get to a few times a year, making it even more special to us, the Sundance Café. I have been going there for over 30 years since I first set foot in Colorado.

Located just outside the town of Nederland up on the Peak-to-Peak Highway the views of the Continental Divide from the Sundance are absolutely gorgeous. The food is always great and eating on the outdoor deck on Saturday was a real treat and delight in the 80-degree weather!

A sign they had posted as you walked in gave me today's quote, "Be Nice or Leave!"

As I walked past the sign I thought how great it just really summed up our relationships with each other. As we move into the month of October the Master Mind Principle that we will be focusing on in the Victory Circles is that of Cooperation. In order for us to achieve cooperation – nice is a critical factor.

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"I don't know if there is a way to say goodbye to Pine Valley."
- Eva LaRue

This morning as I opened my eyes, a bit later than usual, the sun was rising, showing off a beautiful golden glow from the ash and crab apple trees right outside my bedroom window. It was a strong and beautiful reminder at the start of the day and the week, change is most definitely in the air.

You know it's an interesting thing about change – sometimes you can see it clearly and sometimes not so much. Yesterday as I trimmed some trees in our yard wanting to remove some dead branches (before I can't tell which is which once the leaves fall) I was amazed that the Autumn Equinox has come because other than the leaves changing it still feels very much like summer.
I have found myself resisting the work that I must start doing in the garden because it feels like I am doing it prematurely. It's funny when you look at how we can resist change sometimes until it is forced upon us, making us a lot more uncomfortable because we waited. For example with the garden – I could put it to bed for the winter now enjoying the warm days in the process. Or I can put it off and freeze my tush off doing the work while the snow is flying (oh and it has happened before!).

Sometimes change can whack us hard over the head like the loss of someone or something you love. Sometimes it can come so out of the blue, taking our breath away. And sometimes still we can avoid it for so long that it actually becomes more painful not to change than it does to allow the change to happen.

This week's quote came during a some of the media talk around All My Children's final episode this past Friday. While it was sad that this iconic show was coming to an end – you have to say that 41 years is quite a legacy for a television show. While I used to watch in faithfully back in the day, these days it was just once in a while. It was that constant of the characters being there that was comforting – not so much the story lines.

And then poof, now in an instant, Pine Valley is gone. However the final show ended in a cliff hanger and there is talk about it coming back in an online version. Should they just let it go the way of change? We shall see.

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"A faithful friend is the medicine of life."
- Ecclesiastes 6:26

This morning as the words make their way onto my computer screen I would be remiss not to share my heart felt gratitude to each of you who reached out to me last week. I was really touched by so many emails – some sharing your own losses of your favorite pooch, as well as the phone calls and the cards that were mailed to me. Since I was working at about 40% capacity last week I have not had a chance to respond to most of you and it is on my priority list for this week – stay tuned.

Just as this mornings quote shares, it is that loss of a faithful friend and companion that can take us on a new road in our journey as part of our antidote for the medicine we have lost.

It has been interesting to watch this week as Isabella (aka Izzy) our 2-year-old Lab has had to find a new normal as well. Tuesday after dropping off Travis at the airport, Izzy suddenly just found her way straight into the passenger seat of my van – something she had never done before (or Sam for that matter). It was if she was saying, "Okay Mom I am now ready to take on my role as your new solo co-pilot."

Over the course of the week Izzy and I got through our sadness as best we could. Yesterday she had her first mountain adventure,ever, with my friend Maya and her pooch Watson. They showed us a new hiking trail up above Jamestown. Izzy had a blast running through the river that ran along the trail. A big thanks to Maya (and Watson) for giving Izzy and I a little adventure to help us divert our attention.

Writing these words – diverting attention – I think perhaps it is one of the keys of getting through sadness and grief in our life. Finding things and activities that allow the sunshine to shine a little brighter again. I even found myself vacuuming over the weekend to the sounds of Led Zeppelin pounding in my ears from my ipod to be a relief. Whatever it takes – right? With several more offers for diversion from friends in the week ahead I am looking forward to letting these beautiful Colorado Indian Summer blue sky days come through for both Izzy and myself.

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"Life if what you make it!"
- Samantha Stevens Ruskus

Last week when I wrote the words to you "be strong" I had no idea how deep I would need to reach into myself to use them over and over again in the 48 hours that were to follow. In fact I am still reaching deep for them as I write this letter to you this morning.

Our sweet Samantha, our yellow lab and intricate part of our family, got progressively sicker on Tuesday. By late in the day on Wednesday the writing was on the wall that we would need to release her from her pain. Travis arrived home Wednesday night and by Thursday morning after a few hours of sleep I made "the call" at 7am.

I don't think I have ever had a harder decision to make in my life – but one that became clear with each of Sam's laboring breaths. Following my own advice – I lived in each and every moment last week savoring my last little bit of time with Sam. Sitting next to her hour after hour on Tuesday and Wednesday I remembered our time with her over the course of the past twelve years. The joy she brought to our family and how much she wove into the fabric of our lives.

Sam's final breath came to her right here in her own backyard that she loved so much. An organization called Home to Heaven sent an amazing vet here to our house. He was compassionate and so empathetic to the pain we were all going through. As she laid on her pillow looking me straight in the eye I watched as she slipped away – leaving her tired body here on earth to move as I have learned – over the Rainbow Bridge. With the help of Travis and my sister Susi we wished her well on her way.
The vet said it was important that Isabella, Izzy, our other lab who is just two years old stay right there with us through the process of Sam's departure, to help her to better understand what was happening with her dear sister, friend and constant companion. With Sam by Izzy's side all the days of her life her with us, this will be a hard adjustment for her to make as well.

Bailey arrived home on Friday night and we have spent the last couple of days remembering the love that our Ms. Samantha brought to this family and trying to get past the huge hole in our hearts.

This morning I am sharing a number of pictures with you (she was quite the photogenic dog!) that were quite hard to pick out of the 1,000's we seem to have of her.

It also seemed appropriate to share something she said to the kids nearly every time they walked out the front door – all the years of going to school. Yes, you heard me right – she said it. As I told my husband and kids – Sam seemed to channel through me what she wanted to say…and I talked for her. Silly and crazy as that might seem to some – it just kind of flowed out of me and the words, "Life is what you make it", became Sam's constant words to her kids wishing them well on their way each day. 

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